Compare Pax vs Trava vs Caspian vs GingerControl
Choose between Pax, Trava, Caspian and GingerControl.
Pax, Trava and Caspian work after the entry: audits, drawback and refund claims. GingerOS works before it, so each code has its reason on record.
| Job | Pax | Trava | Caspian | GingerOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A licensed broker files claims for you | Yes | No | Yes | PartlyIEEPA partner |
| Audit of past entries | Yes | Yes | Yes | PartlyService |
| Duty drawback | Yes | Not stated on its public pages | Yes | PartlyPartner |
| IEEPA refund filing | Yes | No | Yes | PartlyPartner |
| HTS codes with written reasoning | Not stated on its public pages | Yes | Not stated on its public pages | Yes |
| Rechecks when a part or supplier changes | Not stated on its public pages | Not stated on its public pages | Not stated on its public pages | Yes |
Best pick by job
- Drawback or refunds filed for youPax or Caspian
- A fast audit of past entriesTrava
- A reason on every code before the entryGingerOS
- Yes
- No
- Partly
- Not stated on its public pages
A fit check of six jobs, marking which ones Pax, Trava, Caspian and GingerOS each cover according to their public pages, with the best pick for each kind of job.
Which should you pick?
A recovery firm for claims on past entries; GingerOS for the code and the reason behind future ones.
Pick Pax or Caspian if you want duty drawback or IEEPA refund claims found and filed for you; both file through licensed customs brokers, and Caspian says it filed over $40 million in refunds in its first 15 months on its own license. Pick Trava for a quick audit of past entries; it doesn't file, your broker does. Pick GingerOS if the problem starts earlier: it keeps the reason behind each classification and rechecks it when a part or supplier changes, so the record is ready when an audit or a claim needs it.
How do Pax, Trava, Caspian and GingerControl compare?
The three recovery firms work on past U.S. entries; GingerControl works on the code before the entry.
| Compared on | Pax | Trava | Caspian | GingerControl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | An AI broker for tariff refunds: a control tower for duty drawback, tariff recovery, customs audits, FTZ, reconciliation and post-entry compliance | AI audits of past U.S. customs entries for overpaid and underpaid duty | Software that audits every entry and files drawback, IEEPA refunds and corrections | GingerOS, an AI trade compliance platform built on your own process |
| Who files with CBP | Its licensed customs brokerage | It doesn't file; your broker does | Its licensed customs brokers, over its own ABI connection | Your broker files entries; our licensed IEEPA refund partner and a drawback filing partner file the claims we prepare |
| When it works | After the entry | After the entry, with a first audit report within 72 hours | After the entry, including corrections and protests before the window closes | Before the entry, and again whenever a part, supplier or rule changes |
| Classification | An HTS lookup, and reconciliation and protests that cover classification | A classification copilot with documented reasoning and citations | Entry checks against 100+ rules | GRI reasoning that asks when a fact is missing, with the reason kept on record |
| Price | Not published | Not published | Not published | GingerOS: quoted per project by complexity, after the Prototype Week |
Sources: Pax on Y Combinator (checked Oct 7, 2026); paxai.com (checked Oct 7, 2026); usetrava.com (checked Oct 7, 2026); Caspian platform page (checked Oct 7, 2026); Caspian acquires Trade-IQ (Business Wire, June 24, 2026) (checked Oct 7, 2026). GingerControl facts: our own product documentation. Spot something out of date? Email chen@gingercontrol.com.
A comparison table of Pax, Trava, Caspian and GingerControl on five points: what each is, who files with CBP, when it works, classification and price.
Who should pick which?
Pick a recovery firm for what already entered, and GingerOS for what enters next.
Pick Pax if
- You want drawback claims filed for you, start to finish
- You also want IEEPA refund help and FTZ work in one place
Pick Trava if
- You want a fast audit of past entries, with findings in days
- Your current broker should keep filing
Pick Caspian if
- You want refunds found and filed over a direct ACE connection
- You also need corrections and protests filed in time
Pick GingerControl if
- Your codes were picked without a written reason
- Parts and suppliers change faster than anyone rechecks
- You want the record in place before the next audit or claim
You can use a recovery firm for past entries and GingerOS for the codes going forward.
A decision guide with reasons to pick Pax, Trava, Caspian or GingerControl, and how a recovery firm and GingerOS can work side by side.
Where does GingerOS work, before or after the entry?
Before: each part gets its code and reason on record, and rechecks itself when the part or supplier changes.
Ginger asked
GingerWhat do buyers mainly use it for?
YouListening to music and taking calls. The case only charges the earbuds.
HTS code
8518.30.2000Headphones and earphones
Reason on record
Sold as a set for retail sale, so GRI 3(b) applies. The earbuds give the set its essential character; the case only charges them.
Based on
- GRI 1
- GRI 3(b)
- Sec. XVI Note 3
- HQ H346387
Approved by your customs broker
Every recheck since
- Oct 1Classified, reason recordedDone
- Oct 2Approved by your customs brokerApproved
- Oct 3Entered by your broker, record kept with the entryEntered
- Oct 5Supplier changed the case specRechecking
- Oct 5Ginger asks: can the new case play audio?Your turn
A sample GingerOS classification record for wireless earbuds with a charging case: the question Ginger asked and the answer, HTS code 8518.30.2000 with its GRI 3(b) reason, the broker's approval, the entry that used it, and a recheck started when the supplier changed the case. All data is sample data.
Questions about Pax, Trava, Caspian and GingerControl
What do Pax, Trava and Caspian do?
All three work on past U.S. entries. Pax calls itself an AI broker for tariff refunds, with drawback, IEEPA recovery and audits. Trava audits past entries for overpaid and underpaid duty and leaves filing to your broker. Caspian audits every entry and files drawback, IEEPA refunds and corrections through its licensed brokers.
Does GingerControl file refund claims?
Our partners do. For IEEPA duties, we prepare the refund file and our licensed IEEPA refund partner files it, with no guaranteed amount. For drawback, we build the claim file and a drawback filing partner submits it. We never file customs entries; your licensed broker does.
Do any of them replace my customs broker?
Pax and Caspian file through their own licensed brokers, so for those claims they can stand in for yours. Trava and GingerControl don't file entries; your broker keeps that job.
Why get the code right before the entry instead of auditing after?
An audit finds the error after the duty is paid. GingerOS asks for the missing fact, records why each code applies and rechecks it when a part or supplier changes, so the evidence already exists when an audit or a claim needs it.
Do Pax, Trava or Caspian work outside the United States?
Their sites describe products for U.S. importers. Our duty work also covers U.S. imports, compared across 200+ origin countries, and our classification covers the U.S. and Canada, with the EU in beta.
